“The precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19)  

Standing at the foot of the cross, we see flowing from His hands, feet and side, Life-giving blood for every saint, past, present and future. Since the first sacrifice in the Garden of Eden clothed Adam and Eve, THIS BLOOD was prefigured in every animal sacrifice to God. And now, at this moment in time, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), purchased LIFE and POWER for the elect. 

 Previous to this moment, all sacrifices were “a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things … For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4). But at the cross, Christ accomplished What was impossible for any other being. “By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Miracle of miracles, He used His own blood for the sacrifice which He officiated. “With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all” (Hebrews 9:12), and now He’s our High Priest in Heaven. 

 “Having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:21-22). Now, for the first time in history, since saints are completely free of sin, God places His Spirit within them and supernaturally changes their hearts so they’ll have power over sin and the willingness to unconditionally obey Christ as Lord. 

 We see the results of those supernatural changes in the courage of the saints: “They overcame … by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11). How could they do otherwise? Since they have the will to obey God unconditionally, combined with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, they’re well-suited to overcome temptation by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus! Sin dies in its presence, death ceases to be death: heaven's gates are opened.